Nigerian Football
RETURNING OGENE REFLECTS ON PLATEAU UNITED’S RELEGATION STRUGGLES
BY FISAYO DAIRO
Winners of 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Plateau
United are one of the surprise names in the relegation zone of the 2018/19
league groups with just two rounds of matches remaining.
Plateau United, coached by Abdu Maikaba won just
one of their first seven league matches this season and have failed to
sufficiently recover from that early season lethargy, compared to what their
group leaders Akwa United (who also failed to win any of their first four
games) have done.
While Maikaba’s former side Akwa United have
already secured a place in the season-ending Super Six playoff, his current
side Plateau United, still occupy an inglorious position in the red zone with
dangers of the drop hovering over the hitherto beautiful skies of Jos.
Plateau welcomed back their first choice centre
back Elijah Ogene to the starting lineup in their Match Day 20 clash at fellow
relegation battlers Go Round on Thursday and he contributed immensely to their
1-1 draw.
“It feels very good to be back, I was out
of action after our game in Maiduguri (four weeks ago) when I fell sick. I
thank God I’m back and better now and thankful for the point we got in Omoku as
well,” said Ogene to www.npfl.ng
The Genesis
Ogene traced the genesis of his team’s struggles
this season to the initial absence of their Coach and the crowd disturbances
that led to their playing home games away. With their head coach Maikaba away
with the Nigeria Under 20s preparing for the Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations in
Niger Republic, the team endured a torrid start to the campaign.
A home draw to FC Ifeanyiubah on Match Day One
was trailed by crowd disturbance, which meant that the team was banished to
Ilorin and Lafia for their next two home games. The team struggled.
“It wasn’t easy at the beginning. We
started very badly and the banishment did not help us too as it meant we were
always on the road every two days.
“Thank God we started getting it right
especially in this second stanza and by the grace of God, we will escape the
relegation. That’s what we’re really fighting for now,” said Ogene.
Hope of glory in the face of demotion
In spite of their troubles, Ogene still believes
his side can take the Cup route to land a continental spot at the end of the
football season in Nigeria. With Nigeria’s four slots in CAF competitions
restored, three teams will qualify to represent the country from the league
while a fourth will emerge from the Cup winners.
The Port Harcourt-born defender who featured in
each of Plateau United’s games in the CAF Champions League and Confederation
Cup in 2018 says once they are successful with their bid to avoid relegation,
they will turn focus on the AITEO Cup.
“One thing about the season is this
unpredictable nature so we just want to fight it out and make sure we escape
relegation by May 26. After then, we have hopes that we will do well in the
AITEO Cup and we will do better in the Cup to get a Confederation Cup
ticket.”
The Tin City side, have an easy fixture on paper
when they welcome already relegated Yobe Desert Stars to Jos for Match Day 21
on Monday. Ogene however insists they have to be careful against the North
Easterners.
“That they have relegated doesn’t mean they
cannot cause problems so we will be ready to do our jobs professionally and
make sure we get the three points at stake,” he concluded.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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